If you’re a hockey fan, or a fan of Ron MacLean, the Red Deer Arena will be action central this weekend.
Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour, described as a hockey festival and celebration, will be in the city on Saturday and Sunday, with a special focus on Red Deer’s hockey history.
The family event brings with it a variety of activities and personalities, including MacLean, who is originally from Red Deer where he began his broadcast career.
Activities on Saturday start at noon and go until sunset. There is no cost to attend.
On Sunday, the festival begins again at noon, and will conclude with an outdoor viewing party of the Calgary Flames versus the Montreal Canadiens, which starts at 4:30 p.m. with MacLean hosting the pre-game show live on site from the Sportsnet mobile studio.
Tara Slone, host of Breakfast Television Calgary, and some National Hockey League alumni will be present.
Among the activities, there will be a KidsZone with an inflatable mini-stick rink, face painting, a Sportsnet Magazine cover photo shoot, youth hockey jersey giveaways, interactive games, and a chance to win a Dodge Grand Caravan.
As well, there will be a chance to call a hockey play alongside Sportsnet Central anchor Evanka Osmak, some ball hockey games and skills competitions, and interactive experiences in the Rogers NHL Game Centre Live trailer.
For those who may want something different, there will be an Xbox One gaming area, with prizes and giveaways.
The Hometown Hockey Tour also incudes a Cheer Like Never Before Contest, which gives local teams a chance to win a trip to an NHL game.
The tour will travel to 25 different Canadian communities during the NHL regular season.
For more information and to watch video of the local teams entered in the cheering competition, go to www.hometownhockey.com.